The inaugural meeting of the Society took place on 19 July 1963 and the initial name was Thornbury Music Club and Choir. The first conductor was Pauline Astbury who saw the Society through its birth pangs with some adventurous performances of works such as Edward German’s Merrie England, Haydn’s Creation and Seasons! In 1975 David Shaw took over as conductor and lead the choir through many notable works such as Bach’s B minor Mass and St Matthew Passion, Handel’s Messiah, Dixit Dominus and Judas Maccabeus, the Mozart Requiem, Elgar’s The Apostles, The Kingdom, Music Makers and Dream of Gerontius, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Verdi’s Requiem and many other choral masterpieces. In 1988 the name was changed to the present Thornbury Choral Society. David Shaw retired in 2000 after 25 years at the helm to be replaced by Eiron Bailey who was with the choir until 2005 when Steven Kings took over and raised the choir to new levels of performance.

A wide range of events for both choir members and the public have been commemorating the anniversary including a piano recital by the distinguished English pianist John Lill. John Lill judged the Young Performer’s competition in 1983 on behalf of Thornbury Music Club and Choir and the Thornbury Festival.

There was an end-of-year Barbecue on Friday, 19th July in Stone.

A book has been produced detailing the history of the society and this is available from the Chairman, Alison Makepeace. Price £10. Email requests to chairman@thornburychoralsociety.org.uk or telephone 01454 415019.